The acquisition of Nomad Digital, which offers a range of applications and connectivity solutions to the rail industry, will help accelerate Paris-based Alstom’s vision of making the ‘digital train’ a reality.

Nomad Digital, founded in 2002 with HQ in Newcastle, is a world leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions to the railway industry. Nomad Digital’s solutions include passenger WiFi, innovative Passenger Information Systems and on-board passenger portals, entertainment and media platforms. In addition, Nomad Digital also provides tele maintenance solutions, including Remote Online Condition Monitoring, Reliability Centred Maintenance, Driver Assist and Power Train products. Nomad Digital’s solutions and teams fully leverage the integration and convergence of both Rail and Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) and skills.

This ICT market for Rail is foreseeing a double-digit growth over the coming years, thanks to the high digital integration of trains being demanded by operators and passengers. The continuous evolution of technology and passenger demand offers the opportunity of a recurring business for upgrades, operation, and on-going maintenance services, as well as new services pulled by connectivity, a key domain of the on-going transport digitalisation. Nomad Digital has already established strong relationships with train operating companies, which today represent the most significant part of its business. It serves today more than 80 major rail operating companies in more than 40 countries across the world.

Andrew Taylor, group CEO of Nomad Digital, commented: “Alstom’s acquisition of Nomad is fabulous news for our staff, our customers and our partners around the world. The Nomad team is joining a truly great company with a common culture of innovation and values-based approach to doing business in the rail sector.

“From day one we will have a joined-up strategy and vision around the realisation of the ‘digital train’. We look forward in the weeks and months ahead to strengthening our capabilities in this domain, and ensuring that we maintain our focus on delivering innovative solutions and services to both our current and new customers around the world,” he added.

The transaction, which remains undisclosed, is set to complete in January 2017.

Anne Glover, CEO of Amadeus Capital Partners, said: “Amadeus Capital Partners first invested in Nomad Digital in 2006 as we foresaw the increasing demand from rail passengers for better internet connectivity during journeys. We are delighted that a major rail company has recognised the value of Nomad’s visionary strategy, which has expanded to the fully ‘connected train’, and the global footprint they have achieved.”

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